Insurers announce e-initiative to ease paperwork

Major health insurers have launched an initiative in Ohio to help establish a single-source, electronic-transactions system between insurers and providers.

Physician office staff members currently spend too much time and money accessing multiple channels to get the information needed to complete basic requirements for confirming eligibility, billing and referrals, according to a written statement from America's Health Insurance Plans. The Ohio initiative aims to simplify the work associated with patient visits by providing a new tool to physician practices to check patient eligibility, benefit coverage and claim status from one source.

“This landmark initiative in Ohio demonstrates the commitment of health plans to simplify healthcare and the potential that exists to achieve savings through efficiencies in what we used to call ‘paperwork,' ” said AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni in a written statement.

Participating insurers include Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna Corp., Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Medical Mutual of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare and WellCare Health Plans. AHIP and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association plan to sponsor similar initiatives in other regions and states beginning in November.